Rattery tool



Sept. 27, 1932. J. E. BERGMAN ET AL BATTERY TOOL Filed Dec. 12, 1931 Patented Sept. 2?, l 392 UNITED STATS JEROME E. BERGMAN, OF BUFFALO, AND FREDERICK P. EGO, F KENMORE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS T0 BERG-MAN TOOL MFG. 00., OF BUFFALO, NEVI YORK, A FIRM GOMPOSED OF CAROLINE BERGMAN, JEROME E. BERGMAN, AND RAY VJ. KEMPNER BATTERY "r001;

Application filed December 12, 1931. Serial No. 580,623.

This invention relates generally to tools designed for use in connection with storage batteries and particularly to a spreading tool for the removable terminal clamps thereof.

One of its objects is the provision of a 7 simple, efficient and inexpensive tool of this character which is designed to conveniently and positively effect the spreading of the terminal clamp with a minimum of efiort and thereby facilitate its application to the battery-post.

A further object is to provide a spreading tool of this character whose parts are so organized and arranged as to prevent fracture or breakage of the clamp during spreading, and which is constructed to also function as a means for cleaning the bore of the clamp to assure a good connection to the battery post.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the spreading tool embodying our invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof showing the jaws contracted. Figure 3 is a similar view showing the jaws expanded. Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 4-4, Figure 5. Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5, Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the tool.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the preferred embodiment of the tool shown in the drawing, the same comprises a pair of lever members disposed side by side in adjoining uncrossed relation, each'lever including a jaw-carrying portion 10 and a handle portion 11, the jaw-carrying portions being in substantially parallel relation in the open or spread position of the tool and the handle portions being curved outwardly in the manner shown in Figure 1 to comfortably fit the hand and facilitate the manipulation of the tool. At their opposing inner edges and adjacent the front ends thereof, the jaw-bearing portions 10 of companion levers are provided with oppositelyfacing overlapping coupling ears 12, 12

which project into corresponding recesses or notches 13 formed in the corresponding top and bottom faces of the handle-portions 11.

Extending through these cars with its axis substantially in line with the meeting edges of the j aw-bearing portions of the levers is a fulcrum pin 14 to which the leversare pivotedfor relative movement toward and from each other, the jaws being so disposed relative to the fulcrum pin that, upon the contraction of the handles, the jaws are expanded or spread apart and upon the relative expansion ofthe handles, the jaws are contracted.

1n order to effect the contraction and expansion of the jaws in the manner just deally or at substantially right angles to those portions and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the fulcrum pin 14. Each of the j aw members is preferably of semi-circular shape in cross section with the flat or inner faces 17 passing substantially through or in line with the axis of the fulcrum pin, while their convex or exterior gripping faces 18 are disposedeccentric to the fulcrum pin axis and are adapted to engage the bore of the terminal clamp or other part which it is desired to spread. The major portions of the jaws 16 are disposedforwardly of the fulcrum pin and the inner or rear edges thereof intersect at .or approximately at the axis of the fulcrum pin in the manner shown in Figure 4, whereby when the handle members 11 are brought together to spread the jaws, their maximum spreading takes place at the front or outer'edges of the jaws with the spreading gradually decreasing toward the inner or rear edges thereof, so that at the axis of the fulcrum pin the spreading action of the jaws is practically nil.

maximum leverage is obtained to effect the easy and gradual spreading of the terminal clamp or like element so that the same can be readily applied to the battery post or like attaching member. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the tool is so applied to the clamp that the open split or bolt-lug side of the latter faces the front or maximum expanding ends of the jaws 16, while the rear edges of the jaws face the closed side of the clamp diametrically opposite its open port-ion, thereby,

spreading the clamp at its open side and eliminating any danger of fracturing or breaking the clamp at its closed side. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the companion jaws 16, when contracted, jointly form 1 ing a good electrical contact with the battery post when applied. The companion aws of the tool also serve to conveniently hold or support the battery clamp when it is desired to effect the removal of the clamping bolt therefrom.

We claim as our invention tr 1. A tool of the character described, comprising a pair of pivotally connected handles, and spreading jaws applied to said handles and having exterior gripping faces thereon arranged eccentric to the pivot of the handles, the rear portions of said gripping faces substantially intersecting said handle-pivot.

2. A tool of the character described, comprising a pair of pivotally connected handles,and spreading aws applied to said handles and having exterior gripping faces thereon of substantially arcuate form and arranged eccentric to the pivot of the handles, the rear peripheral faces of said aws substantially intersecting the handle-pivot.

3. A spreading tool comprising pivotally connected handles disposed side by side in the same plane, the axis of the pivot being disposed adjacent to the meeting front ends of said handles, and complementary spreading jaws applied to the handles and having exterior gripping faces thereon disposed eccentric to the axis of said pivot, the major portions of said jaw-faces extending forward ly beyond the handle-pivot andthe rear faces thereof substantially intersecting the axis of said pivot.

4. A spreading tool comprising a pair of handle members provided at their front ends with spreading jaws having convexly-curved exterior faces, and a pivot pin connecting said handles adjacent their front ends and having its axis eccentric to said j aw-faces and intersecting the periphery thereof for effecting the and in eccentric relation to the fulcrum-pin axis, the inter-engaging faces of the spreading elements substantially coinciding at their rear portions with the fulcrum pin axis.

6. A spreading tool, comprising a pair of handle-members disposed side by side and havinga fulcrum pin between their opposing front edges, and spreading elements applied to said handles adjoining the fulcrum pin and disposed substantially parallel with and in eccentric'relation to the fulcrum-pin axis, the opposing inner faces of said spreading elements being coextensive with the corresponding. inner edges of the handle members and intersecting the fulcrum pin, and

the exterior faces of said spreading elements being substantially semi-circular and having the rear portions thereof intersecting said fulcrum pin.-

7. A spreading tool, comprising a pair of handle members disposed side by side and provided adjacent their front ends with 0-pposing overlapping ears, a fulcrum pin engaging said ears and having its axis in line with the opposing meeting edges of said handle members, and spreading jaws projecting from the front ends of the handle members in substantially parallel relation to the fulcrum pin axis, the inner faces of said jaws being fiat and meeting in a joint line passing through said pin-axis in the spread position of the handles, and the outer faces of said jaws being convexly-curved and eccentric to the axis of the fulcrum pin and having their rear portions substantially intersecting said fulcrum pin axis.

JEROME E. BERGMAN. FREDERICK P. EGO. 

